OCR Text |
Show Io8 <P 0 E M S. f Snbmifjiti on. T h fo, and humbly I m y will refign, Nor dare difpute with Providence Divine. In vain, alas I w e ftruggle with our chains, But more entangled by the fruitlefs |>ains. For as i' th' great Creation of this iall, Nothing by chance could in fuch order fall; And what would fingle be deform'd confeft, Grows beauteous in its union with the reft : So Providence like W i f d o m w e allow, (For what created once does govern now) A n d the fame Fate that feems to one Reverfe, Is necefiTary to the Univerfe. All thefe particular and various things, Linkt to their Caufes by fuch fecret Springs, Are held fo faft, and govern'd by fuch Art, That nothing can out of its order ftart. The World's God's Watch , where nothing is fo final!, But makes a part of what compofes aM: Could the leaft Pin be loft or elfo difplac'd, The World would be diforder-d and defac'd. It beats no Pulfe in vain, but keeps its time, A n d undifcern'd to its o w n heighth doth climb\ Strung firft and daily wound up by his hand W h o can its motions guide and underftand. . N o fecret cunning then nor multitude > Can Providence divert, croft'dr delude. l£L And her juft full decrees are hidden things* 1fn * Which harder are to find than Births of S|%igs/^HF Yet all in various Conforts fitly found, v 1*^ And by their Difcords Harmony compound. Hence is that Order, Life and Energy, Whereby Forms are prefcrv'd though Matters die j And fhifting drefs keep their o w n living ftate : So that what kills this, does that propagate. This T 0 EMS. 109 This made the ancient Sage in Rapture cry, That fure the World had full Eternity. For though it felf to Time and Fate fubmit, He's above both w h o made and governs it j And to each Creature hath fuch Portion lent, As Love and Wifdom fees convenient. For he's no Tyrant, nor delights to grieve The Beings which from him alone can live* He's moft concern'd, and hath the greateft fhare In Man, and therefore takes the greateft care T o make him happy, w h o alone can be So by Submiffion and Conformity. For w h y fhould Changes here below furpme, W h e n the whole World its revolution tries ? Where were our Springs, our Ha*vcfts pleafant life Unlefs Vieiffitude did them produce ? Nay, what can be fo wearifom a pain, As when no Alterations entertain ? T o lofe, to fuffer, to be fick and die, Arreft us by the fame Neceffity. Nor could they trouble us, but that our mind Hath its o w n glory unto drofs confin'd. For outward things remove not from their place, Till our Souls run to beg their mean embrace ; Then doting on the choice make it our own, By placing Trifles in* th'Opinions Throne. So when they are divorc'd by fome new croft Our Souls feem widow'd by the fatal !oft : But could w e keep our Grandeur and our ftate, Nothing below would feem unfortunate ; But Grace and Reafon, which beft fuccours bring, W o u l d wypadvantage manage everything; And by riglfc Judgment would prevent our moan, For lofing t%t which never was our own. For right Opinion's like a Marble Grott, In Summer cool, and in the Winter hot 5 A Principle which in each Fortune lives; Beftowing Catholick Prefervajtives. |